Mary, a 'second mediator' - Regent
October 29, 2016
by Mac Norhen Bornales
by Mac Norhen Bornales
Photo by Andre Menicas
THE REGENT of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) venerated on Wednesday the Blessed Virgin Mary as a “second mediator for salvation” next to Jesus Christ.
“Totoong naniniwala tayo na si Hesus lamang ang makakaligtas sa atin. Si Kristo lang ang makapagbibigay sa atin ng eternal life. Ngunit hindi nangangahulugan na hindi siya hihingi ng tulong sa ibang tao. And therefore aside from Christ, we have secondary mediators that would help us with our salvation. And one of them is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Siya ang sinasabing katuwang ni Kristo,” AB Regent Fr. Rodel V. Aligan, O.P. said in his homily at the Faculty’s monthly Eucharistic Celebration.
Father Aligan added that in the case of Thomasians, they are closer the Virgin Mary through St Dominic de Guzman’s promulgation of the Holy Rosary.
“For us Dominicans, the virgin mary is supposedly much closer to us because it was Saint Dominic who promulgated the use of the rosary which was according to the legend, ibinigay ni virgin mary ang rosaryo kay saint dominic. And so we always think that Dominicans are much closer to the virgin mary,” Father Aligan said.
The Regent also narrated a story wherein a Dominican Priest died and when he went to heaven, he saw no Dominicans around and started asking the Virgin Mary where his companions are. “At ang ginawa ni virgin mary binuksan niya ang cape. Nasa loob ng cape niya, nandoon silang lahat. Lahat sila binabantayan niya,” Father Aligan said.
Father Aligan also gave importance on the celebration of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day next week, reminding the Artlet Community on the difference between the two events. “Tuwng All Saints Day, ginugunita natin ang banal na namatay na. Pag all souls day, iyon ang mga kaluluwa na nasa porgatoryo pa at nangangailangan ng dasal,” Father Aligan explained.
He also quoted St. Thomas Aquinas saying that there is a “social dimension” in death. “Kapag umakyat ka salangit at nakita mo ang nanay at tatay mo sa langit, mas magiging matuwa daw kayo. Pero kung ang kalahati lang sa inyo ang napunta sa langit, hindi niyo mamimiss ang kalahati. Ang kalahating iyon ang makakamiss sa inyo,” Father Aligan added.
The Regent also remembered the role of Father Fidel Villarroel, O.P. who died on October 23, 2016. The prolific “saint-maker” who was responsible for the canonization of the first Filipino Saint, Lorenzo Ruiz, was 87. He was laid to rest on Wednesday.
“I am very sure, St. Lorenzo Ruiz will always take care of him when he goes to the Father. We ask the blessed virgin mary that she will always take all of us to protection,” the Regent concluded.
“Totoong naniniwala tayo na si Hesus lamang ang makakaligtas sa atin. Si Kristo lang ang makapagbibigay sa atin ng eternal life. Ngunit hindi nangangahulugan na hindi siya hihingi ng tulong sa ibang tao. And therefore aside from Christ, we have secondary mediators that would help us with our salvation. And one of them is the Blessed Virgin Mary. Siya ang sinasabing katuwang ni Kristo,” AB Regent Fr. Rodel V. Aligan, O.P. said in his homily at the Faculty’s monthly Eucharistic Celebration.
Father Aligan added that in the case of Thomasians, they are closer the Virgin Mary through St Dominic de Guzman’s promulgation of the Holy Rosary.
“For us Dominicans, the virgin mary is supposedly much closer to us because it was Saint Dominic who promulgated the use of the rosary which was according to the legend, ibinigay ni virgin mary ang rosaryo kay saint dominic. And so we always think that Dominicans are much closer to the virgin mary,” Father Aligan said.
The Regent also narrated a story wherein a Dominican Priest died and when he went to heaven, he saw no Dominicans around and started asking the Virgin Mary where his companions are. “At ang ginawa ni virgin mary binuksan niya ang cape. Nasa loob ng cape niya, nandoon silang lahat. Lahat sila binabantayan niya,” Father Aligan said.
Father Aligan also gave importance on the celebration of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day next week, reminding the Artlet Community on the difference between the two events. “Tuwng All Saints Day, ginugunita natin ang banal na namatay na. Pag all souls day, iyon ang mga kaluluwa na nasa porgatoryo pa at nangangailangan ng dasal,” Father Aligan explained.
He also quoted St. Thomas Aquinas saying that there is a “social dimension” in death. “Kapag umakyat ka salangit at nakita mo ang nanay at tatay mo sa langit, mas magiging matuwa daw kayo. Pero kung ang kalahati lang sa inyo ang napunta sa langit, hindi niyo mamimiss ang kalahati. Ang kalahating iyon ang makakamiss sa inyo,” Father Aligan added.
The Regent also remembered the role of Father Fidel Villarroel, O.P. who died on October 23, 2016. The prolific “saint-maker” who was responsible for the canonization of the first Filipino Saint, Lorenzo Ruiz, was 87. He was laid to rest on Wednesday.
“I am very sure, St. Lorenzo Ruiz will always take care of him when he goes to the Father. We ask the blessed virgin mary that she will always take all of us to protection,” the Regent concluded.